Grave-filler.



No. 846,757. PATENTED MAR. 12, 1907.

W. s. PENDLETON.

GRAVE FILLER.

'APPLICATION FILED MAY 15,1906.

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ANo. 846,757.

PATENTED MAR. 12, 1907,

W. s. EENDLETON.

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APPLICATION FILED MAY l5, 1906.

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W/ N SES NVE/Ton VVlLLlAM SPENDLETON @lm/WW A TTOHNE Y S we Hemus PErERs caA, wAsmNaraM-a. n

ANITRD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM SMART PENDLETON, OF SHAWNEE, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO MARTIN yO. FLEMING, OF SHAWNEE,

OKLAHOMA TERRITORY.

GRAVE-FILLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 12, 1907.

Application filed May 15, 1906. Serial No. 316,929.

Tora/ZZ whom/ t may concern:

Beit known that I, WILnIAM SMART PEN- DLETON, a citizen oi the United States, and a resident of Shawnee, in the county oi Potta-A watomie and Territory of Oklahoma, have invented a new and Improved Device for Filling Graves, of which the following is a speciiication.

The invention relates to peculiar means designed to facilitate the opening up and refilling of graves.

The invention resides in a novel form of hopper intended to hold all the removed earth of one grave and a peculiar supportingtruck, the latter employing transversely-arranged axles at its ends having supportingwheels suitably arrangedon their ends, whereby to facilitate movement of' the device as required during the grave digging and filling operation.

The invention resides, further, in novel construction of the hopper and truck, rendering same readily dismembered into knocked-down condition, whereby to facilitate storing away the whole device into minimum space, all as will hereinafter be fully described.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this speciiication, in which- Figure l is a perspective view illustrating a grave-iilling device constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. The view also shows, in transverse vertical section, an opened-up portion of a grave. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view olf my novel truck, whereby to support and transport the special form of hopper employed. Fig'. 5 is a central longitudinal sectional view of my device, the view showing removable division-boards arranged in the hoppen-whereby to reduce'the latters longitudinal length, `and thereby adapting the device for use in the re'lilling operation of any size grave, from the shortest to longest thereof, as same may be excavated for the co'l'lin to be interred; and Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the hopper division-boards.

The main object of my invention is toprovide a portable and novel hopper into which the excavated earth may be pitched direct from the grave-diggers shovel.

In the ractice or my inventon I employ a truck A, see Fig. 1,) consisting of axles B C, having wheels D suitably secured on their ends. The axles B C are connected by spacedly-arranged L-shaped side bars E, having their horizontally-arranged flanges F extended and suitably bent, forming bearing G for arrangement on the axles O, as will be understood. v

H denotes standards removably arranged on the flanges F of the side bars E (see Fig. 4) and disposed projecting, reierably, at an outward inclination from t eir lower ends, as shown in said figure of the drawing. The standards H are constructed into L-shaped bars having one ilange I made extending and said extensions bent into hooked form J, adapted to engage the horizontal flange F of the side bars E, and thereby support the standards H, as shown.

In further carrying out my invention I provide a hopper K, (see Fig. 1,) forming same of unattached or separate sides L and ends M, the ends having outwardly-inclined side edgesdthat is, made widening from their lower edges-and a bottom constructed into two half doors or members hinged at their outer longitudinal edges, substantially as indicated by the reference character O, to the lower edges of hopper sides L. (See Fig. 3.)

On the upper edge of the hopper ends M, I secure a bar P, having extended ends bent down into hooked form Q and adapted, when the hopper ends are arranged in place, to overlie and lock the standards against spreading action, as will be understood upon reference to Fig. l of my drawing.

R denotes suitably-constructed partitions adapted for arrangement in the hopper K, whereby to reduce its containing-space as occasion may require.

S denotes any suitable hook or other device adapted for the purpose, the same being located on the partition devices R at their upper edge (see Figs. 5 and 6) and adapted for engaging the upper edges of the hopper ends M, substantially as shown by Fig. 5.

T denotes a handle-bar arranged at one longitudinal side of the hopper K and having its ends secured to parallel levers U, with ful- IOO 5 and 2.

The levers U are made projecting beyond their fulcrum-point V and connected by a rigid extension W, located at the opposite side of the hopper 12 from position of the handle-bar T for the purpose as will be under.- stood.

A A2 denote chains or other suitable means connecting the doors or bottom members N at their adjacent free edges with the leversU, as shown by Figs. 1 and 3. The chains A A2 provide means for working the doors N and holding them in position forming a closed bottom for the hopper K.

It is intended to provide means for locking the doors at closed position, and the same may be effected by means of simple springe catches A3, suitably arranged and secured to the hop er ends, whereby to support the long or iandle end of the levers at elevated position, holding the doors closed against weight of material in the hopper. Obviously other means maybe employed for holding the doors or bottom members closed, and therefore I do not restrict myself to use of the spring-catch illustrated in Fig. 1.

A4 denote flat or other suitable form of track-rails or boards employed, if found necessary, to facilitate moving the hopper, as Will appear farther on.

The construction of my improved device for filling graves will be understood from the above description.

In using the device when a grave is to be excavated a trackway is formed by means of the boards A4, as will be understood. The truck-wheels should be sufficiently spaced o'n their respective axles to span the width of the intended grave-opening. When startingto dig a grave, the hopper bottom is closed and the truck backed up sufficiently near 4the grave-spot to permit the digger pitching the excavated earth direct into the hopper from his shovel. When the grave is fully opened up, the truck, with its hopper loaded with earth, is moved su'lliciently away from the grave, and after the coilin is lowered and the usual burial ceremony is over it is moved back to position over the grave. (See Fig. 1 of my drawing.) Now when the handlebar is held by person in charge the springs A3 (one only being illustrated) are disengaged from the levers and the doors or bottom member allowed to open part way, permitting a small portion of earth in the hopper to drop down upon the coffin. When su'liicient earth has been deposited to prevent injury to the coflin, the doors are permitted to completely olpen, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, and t e remainder of earth in the hopper de osited at once, and thereby quickly and wit much facility returning all the excavated earth ready for 'finishing the grave-mound as usually done. When a reduced grave-opening is being excavated, the division-boards R are arranged in the hopper, as shown by Fig. 5, thereby'reducing the bottom-opening of the hopper for proper delivery of the earth into a reduced size of grave.

' What I claim is'- l. A grave-filling device, constructed with axles and supporting-wheels, side bars connecting said axles, standards on the side bars, a hopper arranged upon the side bars, and

held thereon by support of the standards,

hinged doors adapted to form a bottom closure for the hopper, and means to secure the doors closed.

2. A grave-iilling device constructed with axles and supporting-wheels, a hopper having end support upon the axles, the hopper being constructed with separable sides and ends, means adapted for securing the hopper sides and ends into assembled condition, a bottom to the hopper, consisting of doors hinged to the hopper sides, and means to secure the doors closed, said means being adapted for control of the doors.

3. A grave-filling device, comprising a truck constructed with suitable axles and supporting-wheels, side bars connecting said axles, standards having means at their lower ends, providing ready arrangement, and suitable support, on the side bars, a hopper arranged upon the truck and held thereon by confining support provided by the standards, hinged doors forming, when closed, a bottom closure for the hopper, levers fulcrumed at the hopper ends, the levers being rigidly connected, a handle whereby to operate the levers, means connecting the doors and said levers, adapted to support them at closed position, and means whereby to secure the doors at closed position, substantially as described.

WILLIAM SMART PENDLETON. Witnesses:

O. R. CANNON, DON. A. MOUNDAY.

TOC 

